Hana

Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

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Users say
(3)

5 out of 5 stars

Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

They’ve kept adornment to a minimum at this West Hampstead restaurant. Even the tanoor oven and charcoal grill, so often taking pride of place at Persian restaurants, are tucked away in the kitchen. Instead, the most eye-catching feature is a wall-mounted fake fire.

Despite the unorthodox decor, Hana’s menu is largely traditional, offering a range of fresh salads - like pomegranate and cucumber-based dezfouli, warming stews served with saffron rice, and tender charcoal-grilled kebabs. The prices are good too with mains at £7 to £12.50.

A warm starter of crushed, grilled aubergines with tomatoes and garlic (mirza ghasemi) had a silky texture, and a pleasingly smoky flavour - well balanced by the sweetness of the tomatoes. Own-made organic taftoon wholemeal flatbread from the tanoor oven - puffy edged and sprinkled with sesame seeds - was the perfect medium to mop it up with.

Two classic stews exemplified the range of contrasting flavours in Persian cooking. Slow-cooked chicken in a thick walnut and pomegranate sauce (fesenjan) was rich and sweet with a hint of bitterness, while a vegetarian herb and bean stew (ghormeh sabzi) was savoury and a little tart from the whole, dried, Persian limes it was cooked with.

Given the quality of the cooking here, and affordable prices, it’s little wonder this friendly neighbourhood restaurant is popular with locals.

Everything was really good. The restaurant is very nice, the atmosphere (lights and music) was on the right point and the food was very good. I need to give a positive valuation to the staff, they were very pleasant, they gave some advises and at the same time we didn't notice that they were there, only on the right time they were interacting with us. The price was the surprise, I thought that I will pay more for 1 start (to share), 2 main courses, 1 dessert (to share) and a bottle of red wine, for all we pay £54.

Very positive: Balcony (in the summer should be very nice), atmosphere of restaurant, staff and off course the food.

Less positive: Although the staff clean well the table (not very normal in London), I think you should have plate mat or towel for table.

So, my rating is 5 starts, I will go there again and I will advise this restaurant to my friends.

We fortuitously booked Hana when searching for a Middle Eastern restaurant somewhere in London that was a little different. The restaurant is informal, small and cosy. Perfect for a grey cold January Sunday. Everything about the food and service showed care and thought. The food was well presented and the flavours were a tasting delight with dishes excitingly different. Surprise of the evening was saffron ice-cream with lemon and rosewater sorbet and vermicelli (rather unnervingly called noodles on the menu). The service was impeccable and friendly. Will be going back.